News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1887-02-03

second Ralph and Jack were in the grasI
I of big, burly-looking man. "Yel
knock at my door and run, will ye," h
said giving each boy shake.
I'VE have not knocked at your door
sir" said Ralph.
"Who did thin There's not anothe
bye in sight and Pm driven wild wiC
yes. said l whip the first bye l caught
and will shure," and here Tim Murph,
raised his hand which he held bi!
| stick. Just as his arm was about to fall
quick step sounded, and the Doctor
caught Tim Murphy by the arm.
"What is the matter here2n
'tAh Doctor, these boys have beer
knocking at me door and running away
Shure, me life is pestered out of me wid
their nonsense"
Boys. did you do this7"
"No, Doctor"
q" I guess there's some mistake. Tim.
Let us go in and see the baby"
With a shamefaced expression Tim led
the way toward the house.
The one room was dark and gloomy.
Near the door was a broad, wet place
where the several children had tramped
in and out all day. Their tracks were
ali over the floor in muddy, wet spots.
A tired woman, evidently Tins wife,
was sitting in broken rocking chair
holding a very thin baby, who gazed
at the children in solemn wonder.
. How's the baby 3" asked the Doctor,
as he sat down near the mother, while
Tim stood by the broken stove looking
at the boys in half angry expression.
Better. thank We. Doctor"
"Yes, he is" answered the Doctor,
opening his medicine case and beginning
to fix some powders.
The little girl that had attracted the
attention of Ralph and Jack came in just
then, bringing two Younger children,
almost crying with the cold, with her
Amy put out her hand to the little girl
and said sweetly GLOW do you do q"
A pleased expression passed over the
little girls face, as she took Amy's hand,
but she did not answer. Amy knelt
down and began untying the little rag
ged hood of the youngest child. She
was surprised when she saw how little
the child had on to protect it from the
cold; and then she looked at the broken
stove and realized how little chance there
was that the child could get warmed in
that house.
Wnen the Doctor had arranged the
ba5y'S medicine he stood up and said: /:
q guess you've changed your mind
about these boys, Tim.
"Yis, Doctor You see the bves do
play all kinds of pranks. and these were
all l see."
"Was it knockin'. father shure
John Grady and Tom Flun tole me we'd
nabbed two fe'lers and bate them for
knockin' when they did it," said Anna
Murphy.
81 begs yer pardon, Doctor, for
throublin' yere byes."
g know these boys are men enough
to forgive mistake" said the Doctor.
Certainly" Doctor"
" Good night Mrs. Murphy, good
night Mr.. Murphy" said the boys pass
ing out of the door after the girls. Soon
they were on the sleds and flying back
to their homes.
Years Eve, at dusk, the Doctor. with
Amy, Lefty and Ralph in the sleigh, and
Jack sitting on bright red sled behind
T" oLv oIlVlng over Inc same road. Tuy
came to halt at quite d stance from
Tim Murphy's house and the children
almost fell over each other in their eag-
erness to get out of the sleigh. The Doc
tor handed out bundles of all shapes and
sizes, which we're piled on the sled
When the sled would hold no more the
girls arms were filed, and the process
sion, with Ralph pulling the sled, and
Jack in the rear carrying a big goose,
started toward Tim Murphy's house
They turned in at the gate and stole
softly up to the door. The girls piled
the bundles on the top step, the sled
was placed at the lowest step, and, Jack
hung the goose on the knob
Inside Tim and Mrs. Murphy and the
children were eating a supper of bread
without butter, and tea without milk
or sugar. Suddenly there was a resound-
ing knock on the door, a scurrying of
feet, smothered giggles and then quiet.
With rush Tim bounded to the door.
1t was not easy to open, for the goose
was heavy. Tim stared at the goose then
at the bundles. 1t did not take long to
bring them all inside: sugar, condensed
milk potatoes, butter, mince pies, apples,
candy, two dolls, rattle for the baby,
stockings, a shawl and other things that
Tim Murphy's house had never held
before. The next day the Murphy
children had their first New Years din
Uaion n